New York State voters support medical marijuana 83 - 15 percent and, by a smaller margin of
51 - 44 percent, they also support allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana
for personal use, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to results of a February 17 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-
uh-pe-ack) University, which showed support for medical marijuana at 88 - 9 percent and
support for so-called recreational marijuana at 57 - 39 percent.

Support for medical marijuana remains strong among all listed groups, ranging from
74 - 23 percent among Republicans to 87 - 12 percent among Democrats.

There are wide gender and age gaps on the question of recreational marijuana, with men
in favor 57 - 39 percent and women opposed 50 - 45 percent. Support is 62 - 37 percent among
voters 18 to 34 years old, with voters over 55 years old opposed 52 - 42 percent.

"Medical marijuana in New York, and in every other state surveyed by Quinnipiac, is a
no-brainer," said Maurice Carroll, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"The age gap on the question of recreational marijuana is not surprising: Young voters
want it by large margins, while older voters say no. So it's just a matter of time, unless young
voters grow more conservative with age.

"The gender, with men in favor and women opposed, is interesting."

New York State voters support 62 - 34 percent having a medical marijuana dispensary in
the town or city where they live. There is a wide partisan gap and a smaller age and gender gap.
Support is 71 - 24 percent among Democrats and 65 - 33 percent among independent voters,
with Republicans opposed 56 - 42 percent.

Men support a local dispensary 67 - 32 percent and women agree 58 - 37 percent.
Support ranges from 67 - 33 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old to 58 - 37 percent among
voters over 55 years old.

New York voters are divided 35 - 34 percent in their approval of the way Gov. Andrew
Cuomo is handling the issue of medical marijuana policy.

Alcohol is more harmful to a person's health, 60 percent of voters say, while 15 percent
say marijuana is more harmful and 18 percent say both are equally as harmful.

If marijuana becomes widely available, alcohol would be more harmful to society, 53
percent of voters say, with 26 percent seeing marijuana as more harmful and 14 percent saying
both are equally harmful.

Voters say 52 - 43 percent that legalizing marijuana would lead to more underage people
trying it.

From May 14 - 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,129 New York State voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Ohio,
Virginia, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling medical marijuana policy?